So, one day you look down. Your feet are in shoes you don't recognize. Maybe you like them, maybe you don't. You can always change shoes. . . . Reinvention! . . . Your life begins here.

Friday, May 1, 2009

OSF Music: Pass the the Potato Salad, Please,

The theme for this week's Old School Friday meme is "Family Reunion, Picnic, Bar-B-Que." I wasn't sure how to interpret this one, but I think a good take may be songs that are good to play at these events. So, my first choice would be "Family Reunion" by Jill Scott, but it came out after 1999. Shucks!

Oh, I'm adding it at the end of the post anyway. Just don't count it as one my choices for today. :-) It really captures the spirit of family reunions with Aunt Juicy getting drunk and telling everybody's business and potato salad turning green.

My first official choice is an obvious one, "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, but I'm using this live version that's cute with them dancing in the beginning.

My next official choice would have been "Love Train" by the O'Jays or "Family Reunion," because they will be at Jazzfest this weekend, but I won't get to see them. Spent all my money last week with Earth, Wind & Fire and Erykah Badu.

I struggled with posting the O'Jays "Family Reunion" because I enjoyed listening to it again last night, but I decided to go with McFadden and Whitehead's "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" instead.

The O'Jays "Family Reunion" was making me think about my mom too much and I was getting a little sad. This Mother's Day will be my first without my mother being on this earth.

But "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," is a great song and good for bar-b-ques and family reunions because it gets people up from the picnic table for sure. I'm posting a clipped version because I wanted to show the folks dancing on Soul Train. However, if you want to hear the whole song, click here.

Have you been to my family reunion? I know it's a black tradition to play these songs at the reunion. My first thought of course was Sister Sledge, but I have learned to never go with my first. Actually I had a different song in mind when I started the post, but it took a sad turn when I realized my mom will not be at the family reunions anymore. so today, I'm sad...and this was my theme.

I love Jill Scott, but you are correct - you would have been DQ'd. An exceptional choice, just late. However, Sister Sledge - and the video was off the hook - hit the spot. We are family and Ain't No Stopping Us Now, took over America when they were released. Both are indelibly sketched into the psyche of American popular culture. Outstanding choices as usual.